One question though... paying money ("thalers") in order to open chests? Cool idea, but I mean, wouldn´t be more logical with having to use up lockpicks instead? Unless, of course, money has more functions...

I think that was probably just to show off some sort of currency system that could be used in some other part of the game or in a mod. A system like that for opening something in the 18th century did not exist as far as I know and they probably put it in because they could.